Electrical-fixture unit



June 5, 1928. I n 1,672,312

7 s. N. GRIFFITH ELECTRICAL FIXTURE UNIT Filed Aug. 21, 1923 Shsulq N. Griff-11h purpose found desirable,

Patented June 5, 1928.

SHELBYN-. GRIFFITH, 0E DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Application, illed hugust, 21, 192 Serial r 655319,

This invention relates to electrical fixture units and, more particularly, to a'unit which will provide an auxiliary current outlet; or

current tap It is the primary object this invention o, p i r ds a wet w i h may be n rpo anywhere in the line of support of an ordinary electrical lighting fixture, and which will supply an additional current tap on outlets, thereby making it unnecessary to make the connection at the socket of the fixture. Y

In the modern household many portable electrical devices are. used, such as fans, toasters, heaters,flat irons, percolators, curling irons, etc, and it is common practice wh s ch t be use to. rem ve a amp bulb from, the ordinary lighting fixture and operate the device therefrom. To. do this often a great inconvenience, as it may be desirable to use the lamp at the same time. Likewise wall receptacles, are sometimes pro; ided for the exclusiye operation of such electrical devices, but in additionto being expensive to install and unsightly, arevoften located at a point remote from where the lighting fixtures arev installed, and, should illumination be. necessary, cannot be used unless an extra long connection cord is provided.

It is therefore an object to provide electrical fixture unit which will proyidea quick and handy method for tapping such electrical devices, or utilized for any other and $9 in q p ed with the lighting fixture that there will be no indication of such an auxiliary current outlet when not in use. p 7

Other objects and advantages will be. apparent in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, in which drawings: p

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electrical fixture constructed according to my inven tion, haying one of the units thereof eq pp d i h an a x iary su nt qi t- Fig r s a nlar ed lan w f he un t ein ig re l w th ee er 319N9 1 "F gu e 2 s e ernal, eetiml iew at ,receptacle enclosed in th unit thefl l it taken on line 3 3 of Figure Figure, 4V is a vertical sectional View of; the unit, taken on the line of Figure 2. n the dr w ng wh re nhr t P rpose of illustration is shown the preferred ern bodirn'ent of my invention, the letter A desig nates an electric light fixture; B a unit or receptacle housing interposedfinthe line of upp f a fixture; mid. 1 s ns tsp.

The electric ligh fixture may be of approved style or design and as illustrated in the drawings consists of a canopy 10, a stem 11 to which is connected the unit B,- and has extending therefrom the cOIWGntionaI larnp socket 12. Through this fixture A, extends the main circuit wires 13 and 14 will be more f ,lly described hereinafter. v p I Ref rring now to the unit or receptacle housing B which may positioned anywhere in the line of support of said fixture, as shown such includes a spherical shell 15 and a cover l6, Extending radially from the shell 15 are a pair of externally screw.

threaded nipples, an inlet nipple 17 for 'con-. nection to the stem 11 and through which the wires 13 and let enter, and an outlet nipple 1S for connection to the lamp socket 12* and for the purpose of leading themain circuit wires into said socket. Upon the upper marginal edge 19 of the shell 15; are formed inwardly extending diametrically disposed retaining lips 20 2.1 and for a pur osc to be subsequently set forth. Suit-ab e means, such as an annular raised r s 22 may b Carried i i r y of the shell 15 for keeping the receptacle C in a co ree pes lt om T ve .6, is pref bly formed so as to conform to the configuration of the. shell 15, and may be hingedly connected thereto as at fand proy'ided with a cover clasp for retaining it in a closed pq iti n wh t n 1 "Concerning the current tap. which may h ad of ny s a n i to ace mm ete s rle Of un s 8 h r diea at? hown ncludes yl riea v n a e an annular ing base 25; and m y b greqve 26 516 end receptacle C,

ew? I dating the annular raised ring 22 of the shell '16 in order that the receptacle C may be hold in a correct position.

It is obvious that other means may be employed for accomplishing this purpose and such is merely by way of illustration. i v'ays 2? and 28 extend through the receptacle base 25 for screws 32. Recesses 33 are provided in the base 25 in order that the wires 13 and let may be connected to the contacts 29 and 30, and such may be filled in or covered it desired, after the connections are made. An annular groove 34 is formed around the up per marginal edge of the receptacle base 25 and forms a'seat for a retaining ring 35 positioned thereon. This ring also has an annular groove formed around its upper marginal edge defining an outer ring 36,

said outer ring 36 provided with radially extending slots or recesses 37 open to the outer edge. \Vhen it is desired to clamp the receptacle base 25 securely in the shell 15,

' the ring 35 is placed thereon so that the slots 3''? register with the retaining lips 20 and 21. This will allow the ring 35 to. seat in the annular groove 31, and by rotating the ring 35, the outer ring 36 will move under the lips 20 and 21. and hold the receptacle base in place; i

When it is desired to equip an electric lighting fiXtUllG with a unit and receptacle such as has been described, the unit or receptacle housing B is placed in the line of support and the wires 13 and 14 enter the housing B through the inlet nipple 17. The

receptacle Chas not yet been placed in the housing B, and the wires 13 and 14 are passed through the ways 27 and 28 respectively. A portion of the wires 13and 14rlyingnearest the contact points 29 and 30 of the housing through the outlet nipple,

stripped of its insulation, the bared wires placed upon the lips 31 and securely clamped to the contact points by means of the binding screws 32. The wires are then led out and receptacle C is then placed in the shell 15 so that the groove. 26 seats upon the raised ring 22. The ring 35 1s then placed upon the receptacle base 25 andby circrunferential movement in'iparted thereto will lock the receptacle G in plac'e'aud"prevent a person from' pulling the receptacle C out of the housing when disconnecting a temporary electrical device from the unit. Should it be necessary at any time to remove the ceptacle C from the housing 13 such may be accomplished by removing the retaining ring 35. as there is always considerable free or slack wire to permit of its removal.

lVhile I have herein described and in the drawings illustrated the invention applied as a receptacle housing disposed at the outer end of a wall bracket, such is merely by way of example and it is to be understood that the unit may be interposed anywhere in the line of support of an electric lighting fixture and may be made of various sizes and shape: to conform to the lines'and workn anship oi the fixture.

Various changes in the shape, size and ar-' rangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and" described, without departing from the spirit of the'invention or the scopeot the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an electric'light cuit wires therethru from the stem to said socket and having recesses opening at the,

outer surface of the base and communicating with said ways intermediate the ends't-hereof, cont-acts carried by said base and projecting into said ways at their intersection with said outwardly opening recesses, and binding screws, carriedby said contacts at said recesses for clamping, bared portions o'tsaid linewires in electrical contact one with each of said contacts.

2. In comblnatlon with an electric light ing fixture embodying a rigidly mounted stem and a socket, a receptacle housing 112m ing inlet and outlet nipples for connectlon respectively to the stem and socket and forming a part of the line of support for the socket, a receptacle mounted in said housing including a base having independent conduit ways formed therethru and opening at oppo-' site endsadjacent the inlet and outlet nip pies, independentcontacts carried by said base and projecting one into each of said conduit ways intermediate the ends thereof, and means for clamping line wires tosaid contactsv intermediate the end ot's'aid ways.

3. An electric lighting fixture of thewall bracket type comprising a hollow supporting stem, a housing having a reduced screw threaded nipple for threaded connection with the outer end of said stem, and a reduced screw threaded nippledepending from the underside of the housing, a lamp socket in threaded connection with the nipple at the lower end of the housing, a receptacle mounted in said housing includingaeibase having conduit Ways extending therethrlr with their opposite ends opening adjacent said angularly disposed nipples, said base also having recesses extending into said Ways intermediate the ends thereof, said conduit ways adapted to permit of line Wires from the stem to be trained unbroken thru the base to said lamp socket, independent cone tacts carried by the base and opening at the upper face thereof and havingrtheir lower ends projecting'into said conduit Ways attothe contacts.

SHELBY N. GRIFFITH. 

